Should a sequel radically change its gameplay? What players are saying
Spyro, DOOM, Resonance and Control Resonant: what the comments really say, with the numbers
Updated: 01/10/2026
Comments stay split: players welcome new mechanics that build on a game, but worry when its identity seems at stake. The topic makes up ~15% of the Spyro conversation, ~14% for DOOM and Resonance, and ~6% for Control Resonant.
The context
On June 7, 2026, during the Xbox Games Showcase, Toys for Bob revealed "Spyro: A Realm Beyond", a new Spyro game due in Spring 2027 on Xbox Series X/S, PC, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2. It is the first all-new Spyro game in years. The studio previously developed the Spyro Reignited Trilogy (2018).
In an interview Xbox Wire published on the day of the reveal, studio head Paul Yan described "active flight" as the game's central ambition: letting players take to the skies at any moment. The reveal also showed a redesigned Spyro.
Factual background compiled from public sources — the debate analysis below relies exclusively on the comments.
How we got here
as told by the comments
Late Jul. 2026
Under reaction videos for Spyro: A Realm Beyond, hype dominates. The debate starts around flight: one commenter fears a game made only of flying stages, another cheers the return of free flight.
Mid-Jul. 2026
Reactions to the DOOM: The Dark Ages Revelations DLC pile up. The spear and shield are praised as a gameplay evolution; a highly liked joke calls it a “copy-paste” of Eternal's gameplay.
Aug. 2026
One comment says Dark Ages' gameplay isn't a good DOOM game, a lone voice against the praise. By late August, the conversation moves on to secrets hidden in the Master Arenas.
Sep. 4, 2026
After an interview with the Spyro developers, a line commenters quote (“we aren't going to reinvent Spyro”) brings big relief. Others point to the question on how flight is balanced against the rest.
Sep. 2026
Around Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, the change in mechanics divides opinion: some find it less dark and too focused on running away, others say it's “much better than expected” despite the shift.
Oct. 1, 2026
Control: Resonant arrives with melee-based combat. First reactions clash: one refund after an hour, one fan adapting and enjoying it after about 8 hours.
Here the debate centers on flight and the fear of betraying Spyro's identity, in a very hyped atmosphere. Developers are expected to explain how flight is balanced against the rest of the game.
Faithfulness 60 %
The reported line “we aren't going to reinvent Spyro” is hailed as a huge relief.
« “we aren't going to reinvent Spyro” the BIGGEST sigh of relief!!! »
The DLC is mostly discussed for its new mechanics, spear and shield first, which commenters largely find successful. A few voices fault Dark Ages' gameplay or point back to Eternal's legacy.
Faithfulness 20 %
One commenter says Dark Ages' gameplay is neither a good shooter nor a good DOOM game.
« Dark ages wasn't a good shooter or doom game unfortunately. Love the setting but this gameplay ain't it. »
A highly liked joke presents the DLC as a “copy-paste” of Eternal's gameplay before praising it.
« Go figure, they copy paste Eternals gameplay and suddenly it's the reviewer's favorite game. Just kidding, this DLC is the BEST doom has ever been in my opinion. »
Once the spear is mastered, the spear-and-shield combo gives “some of the most fun combat” in a long time.
« It took me a little while to figure out the spear mechanics, but once I did, this has been some of the most fun combat I've played in a long time. I absolutely love the shield and spear combo. »
— @IllegallySighted · ♥ 33 · translated ·
see original ↗
The DLC “really evolves the gameplay” and adds a lot to the game.
« I love this DLC so much. It really evolves the gameplay and adds a lot to the game. »
The gameplay shift mostly shows up in opinions on tone, escaping the creature, and combat. Views are mixed, with a somewhat more forgiving camp.
Faithfulness 40 %
Seen as “toothless,” far from the harshness of earlier games: ~70% running from the worm, mediocre combat.
« The game is completely toothless, without the harshness of the earlier entries or that feeling of hopelessness. About 70% of it is running from the worm. Mediocre combat. I don't recommend it. »
Less dark than the earlier series, but the writing and ending are judged excellent.
« Honestly, at first I felt like the devs were forcing the story, with a monster closer to a basilisk than a minotaur. But the ending is absolute cinema. The tone isn't as dark as the previous series, but it's well written. »
The move to melee combat, far from the first game's service weapon, drives the first reactions. The corpus is very small, so read it as an early signal.
Faithfulness 50 %
One player says the first game's atmosphere, lore, horror and guns are gone; refunded after an hour.
« They basically removed all the good things from the first game, the atmosphere, the lore, the horror and the guns, i played it for an hour and got a refund. »
Adjusting to melee-based combat remains hard, even for a fan.
Reinvention 50 %
After about 8 hours, a fan enjoys the game despite the different combat approach.
« I'm about 8ish hours into the game right now and I'm a big fan of it, the one big thing that I'm trying to adjust to is the combat being melee based, definitely a different approach than playing with Jesse and the service weapon. I'm loving it nonetheless. »
— @josephdichiara6630 · ♥ 0 · translated ·
see original ↗
One comment calls it a “proto Devil May Control,” hinting at a turn toward action.
Where the debate standsThere's no clear winner: new mechanics land well when they extend the spirit of the game (DOOM), and worry fans when identity seems at stake (Spyro, Control: Resonant). Resonance is the most evenly split, Control: Resonant the most polarized but on very few voices.
Frequently asked questions
Which games are caught up in the gameplay-shift debate?
Four: Spyro: A Realm Beyond (~15% of the conversation), the DOOM: The Dark Ages Revelations DLC (~14%), Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy (~14%) and Control: Resonant (~6%).
Why are some Spyro fans worried about flight?
Some fear a game made only of flying stages. Others are relieved by the reported line “we aren't going to reinvent Spyro,” and welcome the return of free flight.
Do players like the new gameplay in the DOOM: The Dark Ages DLC?
Mostly yes: the spear and shield are praised and some see an evolution. Complaints focus more on the lack of level select or New Game+.
What do early players say about Control: Resonant's combat?
Opinions clash: one player misses the atmosphere and guns and gets a refund, another likes the game despite adapting to melee. The corpus is very thin.
Analysis built from 275 public YouTube comments on the tracked videos — updated on 01/10/2026.
Our methodology
